Chatanooga Choo Choo

We've been back three days and it's as if we were never away. We drove all day Wednesday and slept in a rest area at the top of South Carolina. Thursday morning we arrived home before noon and spent the afternoon schlepping things from the RV into the house. It was a frenzy of laundry, sorting and putting everything away. Luckily the heat wasn't too oppressive and we took the RV to the parking lot and felt a sense of relief.

Went to lunch at Jeff's favorite "wing" place and a quick stop at the grocery store. It felt so good to take a shower with good water pressure and climb into our king size bed. Ziggy was the happiest as she stretched out on the bed between us.

On Friday we slept late and I walked on the nature trail. It is hot and humid and feels much more hot and humid than in Pennsylvania. The sun just seems to be closer here and your skin burns as soon as you walk out of the air conditioning. We had a lunch date with Laura and Michael and went to another of Jeff's favorite places, "Squat and Gobble." The waitress walked up to the table and said to Jeff, "How was your camp?" She remembered all the details he had told her of our summer job and brought him his usual order of a pork chop sandwich and diet coke without him ordering. (Don't ask about the sandwich - lots of fat and calories) We enjoyed catching up on all the news and laughing with dear friends.

I actually cooked dinner for us and then I went to services and sang with the choir. There were only five of us singing so I was needed even if I was out of practice with some of the newer tunes. It was good to see so many old friends and be welcomed back so warmly.

Saturday we were up early and at an all day rehearsal for Follies. We have missed practicing all summer and need to attend every rehearsal from now until the show opens on September 14th. I had been practicing my lines all summer and forgot many of them when I got on stage. Oh well! I'm in one comedy sketch and sing back up for two musical numbers - "Chatanooga Choo Choo" and "Charlie and the MTA." Still have to put together costumes. Jeff is doing a comedy skit and one solo song. We loved the rehearsal and seeing all the theatre folks.

We were invited out to dinner and it was a Trenton High mini-reunion. Jan and Harvey Trabb had Joe Ott, an old friend, visiting who was also a dear friend of mine. So we had me from the class of '67. Harvey, Joe and Dick Willever, class of '66 and Phyllis Willever, class of '64. Hinda '59 and Marty Klinghoffer '55 rounded out the Trenton group. When we made a toast we broke into song - "Here's to Trenton High School, the red and black....." Luckily Hinda, Phyllis and I were all on Black Team so we all yelled "mostly black." Don't ask if you don't want a huge lecture about Sports Night and school spirit. Anyway we talked about old friends and teachers and it was great.

Like I said, "It's as though we were never away."